The Penn's Grove record., 1887-10-01
PERCEPTION OF THE BLIND.
A Sort of "Sixth Sense" Resulting
from the Union of Hearing
and Touch.

The question is often asked; By
what means does a person unable to
see find his way from place to place,
or know when to turn a corner, or
aver keep on the sidewalk, etc. That
some such power is possessed, to a
greater or less degree, by most blind
people, is we'll known; but just what j
is or how far it may be carried, few
understand, and even among thosh
using it, to whom 1t is a matter OF
course, a simple everyday experience,
few. If any, have succeeded in analyz-
ing it satisfactorily. Though the faculty
is as difficult to explain clearly to those
not gifted with it as would be the per-
ception Of the difference In colOrs or as
sight itself to the blind. l will try to
give some little idea of it for the bene-
fit of those wishing to learn for them
selves or others.
1t does not consist, as is sometimes
fancied, In the skilful use Of a cane or
the exact memory OF distances, though
these are minor aids. 1t results from
the union of hearing and the sense of
touch, both trained to extraordinary
delicacy and habituated to unusual SER
vices, coming to form a sort of sixth
sense.n as instructive, instantaneous
and Trustworthy i'll its activity as any
of the familiar five. To illustrate; If
you walk rapidly along a quiet street,
listening carefully to your footsteps,
you will notice that the solid buildings
and walls close to the sidewalk give
back a distinct echo, which instantly
cease at the openings and crossings.
This to the blind is equivalent to light
aud shadow, and IS in its cIudest
ginnIngs the first element in the 81 xth
sense'' above mentioned, Again,
you walk slowly, in the dark, up
against avail or closed door, you viii
feal 2sAS1estriking it, upon the
delicate nerves of the exposed portion
of the face a slight sensation like
that which might be produced by an
infinitely fine and light gossamer veil,
1t is caused by the increased compress
sion or resistance of the elastic air
wien forced up against one solid body
by the approach of another.
Repeat the expeHement, and you
find that the same thing is noticeable
at a greater distance than at first. This
is the germ of the second element
already spoken Of. These two percep-
tons, blended into one consciousness
and trained to perfection by long years
of practice, enable one to become
aware ct a-aonsiderable distance of any
obstacle in his path, to determine the
size and approximate shape of objects
he is passing, to tell the height of a
wall without touching it; In short, to
take cognIZance of any and all land
marks necessary In making his way or
finding a given locality.
This faculty, based upon simple
though generally unfamiliar natural
laws, is, III some of It's many forms of
application, the source of most of the
seemingly remarkable feats performed
by sightless persons In this connection;
and it is with them SO habitually in
use, SO much a part of daily life. that
its exercise is instructive and ncon
scious, and the blind scarcely realiza
that others employ a different process
to arrive at the same results. 1t is sus-
ceptible Of almost Unreasonable de-
velopment. The writer has known a
I1umber besides himself who could
count the shade trees when riding at
All gallop along the middle of the
'aueet, tell the difference between a
&c sc or open fence, the distance OF
buildings from roadways. etc. The
position of corners, gateways and the
like are much more easily learned. In
walking everything is of course much
nearer, and the difficulty is greatly di-
minished. So every change in side.
walk or fence. every inequality be.
meath the feet or smallest post by the
wayside, is a guide. as definite and
trustworthy as are buildings or sign.
boards to him who sees.